Posted by admin on Jan 6, 2010 in
lists,
opinion 
A year has passed since I officially started this site, and a lot has changed for me. I’ve moved accommodation 4 times, participated as a judge in three awards, and read a startling number of books on a wide variety of topics. I’ve been to Thailand, and Australia, experienced three weddings and suffered through the mortgage discussions of four of my friends. The statistics on this site have risen from a measly 200 per week to an average of 16000 uniques a month, and the search terms aren’t just pornography (though Peter Andre does come up a fair amount).
Looking back over the year, I realize how far I’ve come, and how my tastes have changed. I’m more ebook obsessed than ever, I’ve become a convert to the Android mobile interface, and I’ve discovered what it feels like to have a fish pedicure (more on that later). I’ve laughed, cried, and lived, and have somehow made it through all the confusing pathways to end up where I am now.
Perusing last years resolutions here I’m happy to realize I’ve completed a fair amount of them, and have decided that this year I’m going to work even harder to accomplish the following list! Annoyingly, some are repeats, as I managed 5 out of the 15, but this year I intend to receive top marks.
1. Work on my novel, and finish first draft by September. I have a title, I have a plot, and I have a vague idea of where it’s all going. More to come when I reach 50,000 words.
2. Visit the gym 150 times. That sounds like a lot, but if you think that the year is 365 days, that’s only around 3 times a week. Everytime I set a fitness goal I tend to fail it, so maybe doing it this way means I can tick it off. For the record, by gym I mean any physical activity that involves sweat (not bowling/ sex obv)and lasts over 40 minutes- so cardio classes/tennis etc can all count as a session.
3. Visit a country I’ve never been to. This was last years resolution and though it was fulfilled, I still want to explore- there are so many places to see and do. On that note, my next point- Read more…
Tags: 2010, ebook, new year, new year resolutions
Posted by admin on Oct 28, 2009 in
opinion,
technology 
It’s common knowledge that the youth of today are far more technologically minded then we used to be. For one, they don’t need to queue at school for 15 minutes of grace on an outdated dial-up Gateway computer, and two; they’re dazzled with gadgets that connect them to the web and are heavily involved in social networking. There’s no denying that in ten years time our knowledge will becomes outdated, if not obsolete, with fresh faced twenty something’s running rings round us with intuitive understanding of the latest developments in touch and 3D technology.
It seems manufacturers agree with this idea, as they’ve decided to target kids early. This year has seen the rise of the e-reader, the actualization of 3DTV and Android OS taking off, but it’s also seen a wide range of tech products created which TARGET TWEENS. But what’s so weird about this strategy is that the products they’re using to tempt children into tech are actually really good and well thought out. They’re not just slapping a can of pink/blue paint on a toy, adding in batteries and expecting impressionable youths to be wowed, we’re talking his spec Disney themed netbooks and headphones created to fit the miniature proportions of children’s ears. Read more…
Tags: Asus Disney, Classmate, technology, tweens, Xmas
Posted by admin on Oct 12, 2009 in
Celebrity,
opinion
Perhaps I’m naive, and expect slightly more from the youth of today. I can forgive them their gum chewing, cider swilling antics and even shrug nonchalantly as they fill our parks with spittle and cigarette butts, but I’ve just discovered a board game that makes me deplore their long term life choices (and yes, I’m fully aware of how condescending this sounds, having once been a gum-chewing teen myself).
When I was younger it was considered rather scandalous to play Dream Phone - an interactive board game about discovering your secret admirer, with sweet Americanized nothings whispered down a touch-tone pink phone. How we’d giggle as we passed the phone around, feeling slightly outrageous and grown up, never thinking that the next-gen of board games would take things to a whole new level.
Last year’s best-selling perfume wasn’t one of the many high end scents that pushed the boundaries with new ingredients and interesting topnotes, instead it was Stunning, by Katie Price. The bottles design looks like it had been stolen from a kids Barbie’s Dream house, and the smell was pure saccharine, think strawberries and sugar-coated candy with a high level of E-numbers. Considering this, the creation of the ‘Page 3 Idol’ game shouldn’t shock me, but it still does. Read more…
Tags: glamour girls, Katie Price, Page 3 model
Posted by admin on Sep 16, 2009 in
opinion 
The sign of a great show is that you leave half-stepping to the closing routine whilst trying desperately to remember the lyrics of the catchiest song. When I went to Wicked I didn’t stop humming ‘Popular’ for about a week, but Sister Act had me feeling less than excited. I left the show raving about the amazing production values; the interchangeable scenery, the beautifully bewildering set display, (which converted the stage into a nunnery, brothel and church scene), and the way it took place without a whisper of machinery.
But no humming was involved at all.
But why was this? I loved the film, which was the reason I decide to go, and the fact that Whoopi Goldberg, star of the original, had a hand in the production seemed like a good sign. Problem was that the musical didn’t contain any of the tunes I loved so much, so rather than a nostalgic trip back into my childhood, I was greeted with a re-jigged storyline with a completely new soundtrack. Read more…
Tags: musical, sister act, theatre, whoopi goldberg
Posted by admin on Jul 8, 2009 in
geekery,
lists,
opinion,
technology 
Games and kids. They go together like Ribena and Hobnobs or anything of the confectionery nature, but all too often parents tend to regard console antics equal to truancy in terms of desired activities for their lil ‘uns. But I don’t think this is necessarily fair or wise, and think the perception that games ares somehow wasteful, pointless and a bad influence should be counteracted.
I’d go so far as to say kids should be actively ENCOURAGED to pick up a Playstation pad as there is wealth of learning to be had from gametime that will be invaluable to their future development.
And here’s why.
-They teach you patience and reward you with bonus levels
How many hours did you have to play Zelda before you learnt the moves that would unlock the realm? It wasn’t just handed to you on a plate now was it- to succeed in games takes time, skill and dedication, all qualities we should want to foster in the youth of today. Magical realism now, surgeons of the future in ten years?
-They improve hand eye co-ordination
Team games are great but not every kid has the skills or the confidence to run straight into rounders or tennis. The majority of games require you to be very dexterous with your fingers which will improve your ability to react and interact with moving objects. Naturally the Wii takes this to a whole new level, and should boost confidence and aptitude when playing IRL. Read more…
Tags: children, gaming
Posted by admin on Jun 28, 2009 in
Celebrity,
news,
opinion 
Yes, he’s dead. Yes, it’s very, very tragic. Yes, he did make a major difference to the music scene and make people rethink what they viewed pop music as (and showed us all that money doesn’t always buy a good plastic surgeon).
But c’mon guys, let’s get some perspective on this. I’d like the radio/MTV to be playing something other than his top 50 greatest hits and I really don’t care that much what B-list celebs think about his death (’tragic’ and ‘will be missed’ are seriously overused terms). Death comes to us all, and sure it’s a shock when a public figure pops his cork, (especially if you’ve shelled out for expensive tickets) but why this mass hysteria? Read more…
Tags: cult, hysteria, jade goody, michael jackson
Posted by admin on Jun 12, 2009 in
lists,
opinion 
Life provides a never ending cycle of new experiences; and the time has come for me to plunge into its heady current once more, and make the move from my much loved role as editor of Shiny Shiny and Kiss and Makeup at Shiny Media. Yes, no longer will I be known for awkward video reviews in front of that flocked wallpaper, or be seen on the sites, testing everything from mobile handsets to laser guns. Moving forward is a natural state of affairs, but there are many things I will miss about working at Shiny Towers.
1. The People
I can’t stress enough what a great team I work with, and despite the recent departures of Lucy, Duncan, Gemma, Stuart and Susi, there remain a core group of staff members that I feel honoured to call my friends. It’s not often you find a working situation so congenial that the people actually play a major part in your life- such as on weekends!- but the delightful Dan, Abi, Isabelle and Kelly really make the morning a pleasure, rather than a grumpy sleep deprived experience (and it does help they make me coffee regularly). Many years ago Katie, Chris and Ashley hired me into the fold, and I’ll always owe them a debt of gratitude for embracing me into the shiny family, and will find it odd going somewhere where the names ‘Zazzles’ , ‘Zsa Zsa’ and ‘Sugar coated streamtrain’ won’t automatically be my nom de plume.
2. The Variety
I’ve been fortunate to have worked over a wide variety of sites in my time here, and have experienced a wide range of topics, from fashion to accessories, celebrity, beauty and technology. This has allowed me to hone my skills and learn what areas I’m really suited for, and which I’m not (my D-list celebrity radar is notoriously awful). Read more…
Tags: job, shiny media, spotify